Who doesn’t know Photoshop by name? The world’s finest, most successful and efficient photo editing program! It’s been the first preference of millions of business professionals for the last 30 years. But, many users, particularly beginners, want to know when Photoshop was invented and why this tool was created! Well! Well! Oh! In this article today, we’re going to try to cover all aspects together in a frame so that you get a better picture of Photoshop’s past and its development over the years.
Let’s begin with an introduction to this innovative development. We will try to let you know later;
What’s Photoshop about?
Adobe Photoshop or Photoshop is, in simple words, an extremely efficient graphic design program that helps with its smart tools to perform all image editing and retouching tasks. It’s also called an editor of raster graphics. Designers, photographers, web developers, marketing coordinators, art directors, webmasters, and artists from various media are commonly used in this application. Adobe Photoshop Components, Photoshop CC, Lightroom Classic, etc. are possibly some of the most common Photoshop models. All of these have different purposes to be created, which have some special features.
Since Photoshop Was Invented
As any precious technical innovation, Photoshop was not discovered in a day either. It has taken many years to achieve this stage and provide users with access to several advanced features. Initially, Photoshop was published as ‘Image Pro’ in 1988. It was later released as Adobe Photoshop 1.0 under the brand name Adobe in 1990.
The Invention Behind
This simple question may arise for the people with this special tool who are being introduced. Thomas Knoll, a software developer, and John Knoll, a visual effects supervisor, are brothers. Thomas was a PhD student at the University of Michigan at the time of discovering the Photoshop concept, who then wrote a software called ‘Display’ that was being developed to display grayscale images on a monochrome display. After seeing the project, his brother John, who was an Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) visual effect artist, decided to convert this into a full program of image editing.It was indeed a big move! It was known as ImagePro initially.
What was Photoshop built originally for?
The question can arise after becoming familiar with the name—why was Photoshop invented? Knoll Brothers developed this software in the earlier stage of its invention in order to provide a simple solution for image editing. Later, in launching the revised versions, it made a massive change. Now, for digital paintings, web design content, making GIFs, posters & brochures, infographics& mock-ups, and much more, it’s become almost a one-way software.
Photoshop Pros & Cons from Adobe
We will cover both the advantages and disadvantages of Photoshop from a neutral plane in this part. Let’s go over the following stages!
The Pros
The cons
Photoshop’s Brief History
So we come with a brief history of this tool along with noteworthy features of their published versions since being introduced to Photoshop and the story behind it.
Photoshop 1.0 from Adobe
Photoshop 1.0.7 from Adobe
The first official Adobe Photoshop 1.0 version was released in February 1990. The first commercial release of this software was created for the Macintosh (now Mac) platform under the Adobe brand. The application disk, tutorial disk, calibration disk, Photoshop user manual, third-party developers’ program disk, sample images, and registration card were included. Some of the editing techniques it covered were possibly balanced saturation, and hue color correction, image optimization, etc. This version’s last update finished at 1.0.7.
Photoshop 2.0 from Adobe
2.0.1. Adobe Photoshop
The second version of Photoshop was released in June 1991, after the success of the first edition. In the latest update, some features have been greatly improved, including paths, CMYK Color, EPS Rasterization, and also stability. Like the previous version, it is also only compatible with MacOS.
Photoshop 2.5 for Adobe
This is an updated version of Adobe Photoshop 2.0 with 16-bit support per channel. It was the first version of Photoshop, created in November 1992 for both Mac and Windows systems. A memory bug was found and later improved in the revised Photoshop 2.5.1.1 version (released in November 1993). It is also compatible with platforms like IRIX and Solaris.
Adobe Photoshop 3.0
Photoshop 3.0 from Adobe
In September 1994, Adobe Photoshop 3.0 was first released with its Mac version. Later on, in November 1994, the Windows, IRIX, and Solaris platforms were revised. Users were first introduced to this Photoshop edition of ‘Layers’ and ‘tabbed palettes’. In compact disc and floppy disk formats, it was the first release to be distributed.
Adobe Photoshop 4.0
Photoshop 4.0 from Adobe
In November 1996, with the code name ‘Big Electric Cat’, Adobe launched its 4.0 version. Multiple elements, possibly adjustment layers, color gradients, special effect filters, digital watermarking, grids & guides, free transform tool, navigator palette, and more were added in this edition. Enabled Systems for both Windows and Mac.
Photoshop 5.0 from Adobe
This version was first released with some new features in May 1998. Several features have been included in Photoshop 5.0.0 There are Multiple Undo, Freeform Pen, Layer Effects, Measure Tool, Editable Sort, Spot Color Channels, Color Samplers, etc.
Adobe Photoshop 5.5
5.5 Adobe Photoshop
The upgraded Photoshop 5.0 version was released in February 1999 as Photoshop 5.5. To make the editing tasks more relaxed and simpler, it brought some more facilities like ‘Save for Web’ and ‘ImageReady.’ It also introduced the ‘Extract’ filter to allow designers to easily delete a picture from the context.
Adobe Photoshop 6.0
Photoshop 6.0 from Adobe
The Photoshop 6.0 update, which was released in September 2000, was another notable release from Adobe. The ‘Vector Shapes’ feature that supports vector drawing has been introduced. This allows vector shapes to be generated and converted into bitmap images. It also implemented multi-layer functions and mixing functionality to offer greater interface comfort.
Photoshop Elements by Adobe
Instead of all the advanced and complex features, this unique edition of Photoshop comes with some basic elements of this tool. In 2001, Adobe launched it. User interface revamped and streamlined. Perfect for performing basic tasks of image editing at less expense.
Adobe Photoshop 7.0
Photoshop Adobe 7.0
Adobe Photoshop 7.0 was launched in March 2002, and in August 2002, the upgraded version 7.0.1 arrived after a few months. The Healing Brush, Spell Check, Patch Tool, Button Rollovers, Web Gallery, and Paint Engine features have been added.
Adobe Photoshop CS (8.0)
8.0 of Adobe Photoshop
By launching the version in October 2003 with a bunch of exciting features, Adobe Photoshop began its Creative Suite (CS) ride. Highly updated Slice Tool, Match Color command, Real-Time Histogram, Shadow/Highlight command, RAW 2.x camera, Lens Blur filter, Smart Guides, and many more have been added. It has also been able to sort and share capabilities for improved user control.
Adobe Photoshop CS2 (9.0)
CS2 Adobe Photoshop
Adobe released its ninth major update, Adobe Photoshop CS2, in April 2005. Red-Eye Removal App, Lens Correction Filter, Smart Artifacts, Spot Healing Brush, etc. are likely to be some of the newly released features added. The new Camera RAW 3.0, Image Warping and Vanishing Point Tool, along with custom presets, were also added. Able to High Dynamic Range Imaging and improved support for memory management.
Adobe Photoshop CS3 (10.0)
CS3 Adobe Photoshop
Adobe launched Photoshop CS3 with a simplified interface in April 2007 for improved usability and performance. It came with a brand new, simplified gui and many new advanced features, such as Smart Filters, Fast Selection Tool, Refine Edge command, Auto Align & Auto Blend Layers, Black & White Changes, New Blending Modes, Vanishing Point, etc. Photoshop CS3 became known for its mobile-optimized design facilities in the web design community.
Adobe Photoshop CS4 (11.0)
CS4 Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Photoshop CS4 is its 11th version, which was released with some notable features in October 2008. A comfortable and simplified tab-based user interface came with it. Remarkable features: Capable of fast zooming & planning, including tools for canvas rotation and color correction, adjustment screen, 3D engine, panel masks, etc. Lightroom workflow enhancements along with 64-bit native support have been received.
Adobe Photoshop CS5 (12.0)
Photoshop CS5 from Adobe
Date of release: April 2010. Extended version: 2011 May. First release with a license for a subscription.Key Features: Auto Image Straightening, Cropping & Shadow Catcher Tool, Puppet Warp Tool, Mixer Brush, RAW grain control camera, Bristle Tips, New Modes of Blend: Subtract and Split, Expanded 3D Extrusion Tool Repousse, etc. It also allows this version to save a 16-bit image as a jpg.
Adobe Photoshop CS6 (13.0)
Photoshop CS6 from Adobe
Photoshop CS6 was released with a large number of updates, including its UI, in May 2012. Dark user interface option with all new icons and other elements added. Main features: Auto context save, Revised vector tools, Adjustments for layers, color and exposure, Camera raw 7, Adaptive Wide Angle filter, Improved support for film, 3DLUT modification, Paragraph and Character Types, etc.
Adobe Photoshop CC (14.0)
Photoshop CC from Adobe (14.0)
Can you ask modern users to know when Photoshop was invented? By seeing its futuristic perspective and functionality, many existing users think of Adobe Photoshop CC as a new invention in the field of photo editing. In June 2013 the first version of Photoshop CC was released. It later launched its revised 14.1 and 14.2 versions in September 2013 and January 2014, respectively. Smart sharpening tool, Adjusted rounded rectangles, Conditional actions, Camera shake reduction, Camera Raw 8.3, Perspective Warp, 3D printing support, etc. are some of its noteworthy features.
Photoshop CC from Adobe (15.0)
Photoshop CC launched its revised version with more complicated features in June 2014. It later released an expanded version called Photoshop CCC in the month of December of the same year (15.2.2).Features such as Perspective Wrap, support for 3D printing, Focus Mask, Blur Gallery Motion Effects, Adobe Camera RAW 8.3, support for the Enhanced Mercury Graphics Engine, etc.
Photoshop CC from Adobe (16.0)
In June 2015, Photoshop CC launched its 16th edition. Later, the upgraded versions of this series were released with several advanced features in November 2015 and January 2016, respectively.Key Features: Modern and improved Artboards, RAW 9.1 camera, Dehaze tool, Previews of real-time healing, New Artistic Cloud Libraries, Enhanced export options, and many more. Multiple ScriptUI, translation, order recording, color sampling with gradient method, etc. also had some bugs/errors.
Photoshop CC from Adobe (17.0)
This version was revealed in June 2016, just one year after the 16th version of Photoshop was released. Some advanced features have been added, including the Revamped Libraries Panel, Enhanced Artboards, Match Font, Adobe Portfolio, Range & Masking Room, Content-aware tool cropping, etc.
Photoshop CC from Adobe (18.0)
Unveiled in November 2016, the 18th version of this application was released by Photoshop. Noteworthy features: Adobe XD integration, support for SVG color fonts, facility search tool, Adobe Portfolio, support for MacBook Pro Touch Bar, and better performance. Errors/Bugs: Software error, TrueType and OpenType font problems, file corruption, disk size error, etc.
Photoshop CC from Adobe (19.0)
The 19th edition of Adobe Photoshop was launched in October 2017 and ended up with Photoshop 19.1.8 in March 2019. Key features: New Stroke smoothing features, updated tooltip composition engine, Curvature pen tool, Paintbrush& eraser tool, Multiple undo option, support for Microsoft Surface Dial & variable fonts, Streamlined brush management, and more. Errors/Bugs: Problems when using the Artboard, Properties Panel and Pen tool, selecting a hidden layer, crashing while editing, drawing, and copying or pasting an object.
Adobe Photoshop CC (20.0)
Photoshop CC from Adobe (20.0)
Adobe Photoshop arrived with its 20th version with more improved functionality, launched in October 2018. Notable features: Enhanced auto-commit and multiple undo mode layer screen, Color Wheel, 2x Subject Pick, Proportional Transform, Symmetry Mode, etc. Bugs: crashing Photoshop, slow performance, image resizing problems, rendering, lighting effects, and smart filters.
Adobe Photoshop 2020 (21.0)
Adobe Photoshop 2020, which is its 21st edition, comes with the most revised version of this advanced program. The initial release date of this version is November 2019. And, in May 2020, it announced its latest, stable update. Key features: improved auto choices, enhanced panel properties, text layer properties, modified blur lens, customizable warp, support for animated GIF & cloud documents, new swatches, gradients, shapes & stylish fonts, and many more features. MacOS, Windows, and iPadOS compliant.
Conclusion
We began with a very popular and common query. When was Photoshop invented? Later, along with its notable features, we ended with the Photoshop version history to let you know the specifics of its different versions that have been released so far. Hopefully, you have several simple yet important things relevant to this application that you have to understand. It is not the end of this trip, however. There are also several more features to be included in the coming models.
